Habs hold optional morning skate in Brossard

The Canadiens held an optional practice Thursday morning in Brossard ahead of Game 1 of their first-round playoff series with the Ottawa Senators Thursday night at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., CBC, RDS, TSN Radio 690).

The only players who didn’t take part were Brandon Prust, Francis Bouillon, Brian Gionta, Michael Ryder, Tomas Plekanec and Rene Bourque. Goaltender Carey Price and Max Pacioretty only skated briefly.

The lines from practice earlier in the week suggest this will be the starting lineup Thursday night: Gallagher-Eller-Galchenyuk; Prust-White-Moen; Desharnais-Bourque-Pacioretty; Gionta-Plekanec-Ryder. On defence it should be: Gorges-Diaz; Markov-Subban; Bouillon-Tinordi.

“We want to establish the tempo of the game,” coach Michel Therrien said. “In order to make that happen, we need to keep things simple.”

I’m pumped for tonight, I have a feeling PK is going to take control of this game. The Gallagher – Eller – Galchenyuk line is going to have a big night. Our rested veterans will have a jump in their step. Pacioretty will play on the perimeter. Ryder is going to score. I have no idea about Price but I think he’ll be ready. 5-2 Montreal.

You get up on this morning
From your alarm clock’s warning
Sports section read before the day peeks
Sending prayers up above
All fans are hummin’, and are hoping
Tonight’s game, about to get gritty

And if the team’s in line
Can’t focus on work by nine
You hate your slaving job to get your pay
If you’re ready to enjoy
For solace, just look at our boys
They love to work at sporting all day

And they’ll be…
Taking care of business, on this day
Taking care of business, we’ll all say
They’ll been taking care of business, playoff time
Taking care of business. let’s all get in line
Win it out!

If it were easy as fishin’
We would then all be playin’
We could be like Prust, loud or mellow
Get a second-chance to shine
Chances are they’ll do fine
The Habs made from the right bunch of fellows
People see them having fun
While we’re all lacking sun
Tell them to all play this way
At the losses, we’re annoyed
Playoffs? Losses are devoid
We love to cheer for the team all day

And they’ll be…
Taking care of business, on this day
Taking care of the Sens, we’ll all say
They’ll been taking care of business, playoff time
Taking care of Chris Neil, let’s all get in line
Win it out!

One, two, three, four
And they’ll be…
Taking care of the Sens on this day
Taking care of the Sens every way
They’ll be taking care of business, it’s cup time
Taking care of business and winning overtime

I like how all the pundits are saying the way to win games is to punish the opponent physically.

I think the way for the Habs to win is to skate faster than the other team.

In the past I noted how the Jacque Martin’s coached Habs suffered the worst injuries and lost the most man-games than any other Habs line-ups I can ever remember, and that it was Carbo’s high flying Habs that finished their season virtually unscathed… not unlike this year’s version.

The difference? One system focused on defence and skating backwards and the other teams focused on offence and skating forward.

Let the other teams punch themselves drunk but taking runs at everybody. Habs can go deep if the present an unhittable and constantly moving target.

CHeers Matty, thanks. Looking forward to watching that final, I will be pulling for Bayern, as that was the team I first ever watched play on the old show Soccer Made in Germany, and I got to watch my favourite play Karl-Heinz Rummenigge play for Bayern.

Kind of wonder what kind of reception Wembley and London will give to all the German fans who make the trek over to watch that final.

You assume that the time the defensemen spent on the ice was all dedicated to defending.
What about when they are on the ice during a period of concerted pressure in the o-zone, or during back-and-forth neutral-zone play?

If you’re looking for numbers reflecting defensive efficiency, get stats that show how much of that time they spend in their own end of the ice.

karlsson has played 461 minutes including 76 minutes on the PP and 30 minutes short handed. Enough playing time,in my opinion, that his numbers are an accurate reflection of his productivity and efficiency

I don’t understand your point about where the puck is and how that might affect a players defensive “rating”. A big part of being good defensively is NOT spending a lot of time in your own zone. I don’t believe there can be a better indication of defensive efficiency than the average minutes of ice time per goal allowed. The only thing that could make it more accurate would be if the quality of the opposition (and linemate) were taken into account.

I don’t take the Quality of Opposition into account because I find it too complicated and I believe that for the most part those things will even out. (e,g If a player is scored against frequently because he is always going up against the other teams best forwards, eventually the coach will play someone else against those forwards. I also don’t think that in the NHL a “weak” player can hide his deficiencies by playing with a strong teammate for very long. Eventually the weakness will be exposed as over the course of the year it is rare for a player to be AWAYS matched up with the same linemates and/or defence partner.

The “proof” is that the best players ALWAYS have the best average minutes of Ice time per goal scored and per goal allowed.

Also, measuring gaols for and against is not “subjective” judging like in figure skating (god damn those eastern european judges).

How else can you judge a players value if not by his team scoring frequently while he is on the ice , and the other team scoring rarely when he is on the ice?

Its time to turn to Whiskey I’ve been drinking beer all night
Its time for the Habs playoff run to show us the light
Maybe even Travis Moen will stand up and fight
Brandon says to Chris you will soon be going to the beach to fly a kite
Its time to switch to Whiskey I’ve been drink beer all night

I don’t feel Erik Karlsson gives the Senators any kind of decided advantage or even that he’s the best defenseman in the league or conference. But Eric Engels has said that a key for the Habs to win the series is to send the puck into Karlsson’s corner and punish him physically.

Oh the Don Cherry school of thought that has failed oh so many times. When you have an elite puck mover on the ice, giving him the puck is probably the worst thing you can do.

The Habs will attack Methot’s corner as much as possible and send secondary pressure to Karlsson’s area to make him getting the puck more difficult.

If Engels thinks his idea holds water, I suggest he speak with the man he’s mimicking about how this worked out for him when the Bruins tried to attack Rod Langway.

If the first Hab can get there at the same time as Karlsson and hit him, good strategy. Otherwise, I agree, it makes no sense to dump into his corner. He can collect it and pass it or skate it out before most forecheckers can get there. He’s a one-man breakout.

I see in the above the pic that Carey Price has his playoff beard going. Price was unstoppable in Hamilton with his beard, he won the Calder Cup & MVP. When Price had the Movember stache going he was great as well. Carey Price’s Strength is his facial hair!

I can’t see this series going more than six games. Ottawa doesn’t have secondary scoring and their defensive prowess is a lot of smoke in mirrors strengthened by second period numbers that can’t be sustained.

When we score first we’re a near lock to win and when we don’t score first we aren’t out of the game. When Ottawa scores first they do well but when they surrender the first goal they’re toast.

I really don’t understand how this is perceived as a bad matchup for the Habs. They’ve dominated puck possession against the Sens both with and without Karlsson in the lineup, White has routinely made Chris Neil a non-factor and Craig Anderson’s godly status is predicated on short bodies of work. That Senators squad is a flimsy house of cards destined to fall.

!!!! he DID play a lot 560 Minutes at even strength only 12 goals scored while he was on the ice.

In my opinion, if they don’t dress this guy, we are very, very ,lucky!

He, Wiercioch, is also their BEST point man on the PP, by a significant factor. The SEN’s have scored 14 PP goal while Wiercioch has been on the ice for 97 minutes , With Karlsson the Sens have scored 5 PP goals in 76 minutes.
Hopefully they will play Gonchar on the PP. His 1676 minutes of PP time this year has resulted in 14 goals— (the same number as Wiercioch who has played 70 less minutes).

I repeat again, if this guy doesn’t play, our chances of winning are that much greater .

Special teams could play a big part in the final outcome of this series..

Ottawa has a great PK to help fight off Montreal’s solid PP. I think the key element there for Montreal will be the ability of their players to cash in rebounds, deflections, and battles in front of Anderson. All eyes will be on Ryder as well as MaxPac.

Then there is Montreal’s underachieving PK. Two things worry me. A quick PP goal by Ottawa could shatter Price’s fragile state of mind. Secondly, Karlsson could make mincemeat out of Montreal’s PK. If Montreal can somehow tighten up the PK then Ottawa reverts back to being a team that struggles to score goals. That would then in turn put a lot of heat on Anderson.

I don’t think many teams have three scoring lines that are the same calibre as Montreal. First you deal with Ryder-Pleky- Gio. Next comes Borq-DD-Wolverine over the boards and then you get to deal with the youth, skill and hunger of Chucky-Eller-Gally. Try to mess with that and then you have Prust and friends in your face. I like it.

I have alot of confidence in Price, every goalie has a crappy period, it’s not all sh**ts and giggles. I remember Patrick letting in a few softies, and I don’t think he won the Cup every year he played for the Habs.

I am looking forward to seeing Price add a few ghosts to the Bell Centre tonight.

“We’re a far better team. We’ve got much more talent. But the Canadiens weren’t afraid of that talent.” – Derek Sanderson Post Game 7 1971.

“You gotta take any break you get, look around here, you don’t win so many Stanley Cups for nothing… – Wayne Gretzky 1993 Stanley Cup Finals Game 2

“When you play the Montreal Canadiens in the finals, forget it, you do not even want to be the stick boy facing them.” – Phil Esposito Stanley Cup Finals 1979.

I could never believe this team (Flyers) could be beaten four straight. – Bobby Clarke Stanley Cup Finals 1976

“Any excuses we could come up with would be bull,” said Boston Captain Wayne Cashman. “It all came down to one thing. The Canadiens are so bleeping good!”

Name your game, baby, and the Montreal Canadiens will beat you. If you want to play hockey on the pond, the Canadiens will outskate you. If you want to play it on the docks, the Canadiens will outslug you. And if all you want to do is sit at home and play Blue Line Hockey, General Manager Sam Pollock and Coach Scotty Bowman will show up in your living room with loaded dice. – Sports Illustrated 1977

A kid (Subban) called up from the AHL logs the most ice time of any player on either team. He finishes the night at +2 and puts a lick in on the world’s best player.

Years from now, bleary-eyed coaches in video rooms will still be deconstructing the tactics Jacques Martin and his grew have used against Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. – Mike Boone Montreal Gazette

Name another team in the playoffs that was forced to play an elimination game without three of their top six defencemen at their disposal. Without James Wisniewski, without Josh Gorges, without Andrei Markov, this team isn’t nearly good enough to play for a Cup, but they can hang with the Bruins. These are your Canadiens; a team of warriors. – Eric Engels CTV

If he needs someone to take a crucial faceoff, he calls Plekanec. When the Habs are facing a two-man disadvantage, Plekanec gets the nod. Need someone to hold a one-goal lead with a minute to go? Get Plekanec. Short a point man on the PP? Send out #14. Got a slumping winger? Stick him on Plekanec’s line.

“The guy’s been standing up for us. He’s been outstanding for us for years. And this isn’t on him, are you kidding me? This is on all of us. – Josh Gorges

“The game is not played on the weight scale, it’s not a number on a piece of paper. It’s not won in the gym, either,” he said. “It’s won on the ice – Lars Eller

“Gallagher is a machine out there, going and going. He’s a little bulldog who creates so much havoc and space and does so many good things. – Lars Eller

They may be undermanned and undersized, and for all we know, they may be undernourished and underdressed, but people will never, ever question the will of the Montreal Canadiens.
– Scott Burnside ESPN.com

We don’t feel the pressure. We apply the pressure,” Michel Therrien

“I want to kill somebody cutting across the blue line and I want to score the goal and celebrate. And I’ll do it by any means possible to win a hockey game. That’s how I feel playing there (the Bell Centre). I am not sure I have that feeling anywhere else.” – PK Subban

I was hoping that someone like Mr. Zadorov might be available when we draft, but I guess that’s not going to happen anymore.

One physical defenceman with size that I saw play twice this year is Mason Geertsen of the Vancouver Giants. He just turned 18, but he’s already 6’3″ and 200 lbs, so he’ll fill out quite a bit. He’s not a good offensive defenceman, but Don Hay played him a lot this year as a reliable defensive guy, and he has a nasty edge, he reminded me a little bit of Rod Langway or Lyle Odelein in terms of how tough he played, and how he made other guys back down and look the other way.

He’s ranked way way down by Central Scouting, the 59th-ranked North American skater, so he shouldn’t go any higher than the third or fourth round, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a team that wants a tough kid with upside grabs him earlier.

Regarding earlier posts I skimmed through, I have to say that Milan Lucic would definitely have a place on the Canadiens’ top 9. A big, tough forward with good hands is a big area of need on our team.

Good teams have a good mix of people with different skills and attributes. The skillset that Mr. Lucic brings would be very welcome on our team. Conversely, he may not be as easy to fit on a roster like the St. Louis Blues, that already has a lot of big physical forwards, they might prefer a player like David Krejci or Brad Marchand to round out their roster.

I know a lot of Canadiens fans can’t stand him but they have to realize that the ‘big jerk’ and ‘cheap bully’ aspect of Milan Lucic’s game would be toned down if he was wearing bleu blanc et rouge. The organizational culture is historically that of a fast, skilled team that plays tough but fair, whereas Boston wallows in its reputation of the Big Bad Bruins. So while his outrages in a Bruin uniform are lionized by a troglodytic fan base and violence-shill Jack Edwards, they wouldn’t be applauded in Montréal, and his conduct would be coached in a Mike McPhee or Yvon Lambert direction, as opposed to a Nick Kypreos or Craig Bérubé.

I’m certainly not advocating that we should try to trade for him, his cap hit and the cost in assets to acquire him makes that unworkable. I’m strictly responding to the thought experiment that some Canadiens fans have whereby they state that they “wouldn’t want him on our team.” I disagree with that stance. If we had drafted him and developed him well., we’d love the guy.

What are you talking about? Lucic would be way above a “top 9” on our team.
Why would we want to “tone down” his game?
I, for one, would welcome him on our roster just the way he is now. big, bad, tough, a jerk and a bully.

Trying to do some work on the computer, but with the funeral dirge in the background, otherwise known in my copy of TV Guide as TSN’s coverage of the Leafs’ ‘game‘ last night, it’s hard to concentrate, I’m laughing so hard.

I went to the game in Buffalo where they clinched…picked up a couple cases of Export at the duty free on the way down…was able to bring a bunch back to Canada…needless to say, the Habs played like garbage while I spent the next two weeks finishing up the Export I brought back…

I picked up some Pabst last Thursday…things have been great since….another flat of Pabst is on its way to my place for tonight.

Tonight, my 3 Stanley Cups come out and take possession of the TV table I have my flat screen on.
One is a MacDonald’s one a friend picked up years ago. Another was from a cereal box way back in the 70s. The last was made for me by a machinist who had a little extra metal and decided to make inch-high Cup replicas.
The Cups haven’t helped the fortunes of the Habs, but it’s my way of getting the place Stanleyed up for the Playoffs.

when I get home from work, I begin building the ‘shrine’ as my wife likes to call it. It includes a Smiley Habs figure my Mom made in ceramics, a Stanley Cup my Dad made on a lathe (all Montreal on it), a Saku figure, a white Habs playoff towel, plus several other items . This year’s addition, a P.K. framed card 🙂

I’m pumped. It’s almost 1am here but I’ll be up at 7am to watch the game no problem! I think this first game is massive for the habs. Carey needs to step up his game and the team will follow. I have a good feeling about this one.